Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1987. július-december (41. évfolyam, 26-48. szám)
1987-09-17 / 34. szám
Thursday, Sep. 17. 1987. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO 11. The Changing Face of a Nation Important changes took place in Hungary during the 1960s and 1970s. These changes revamped the entire face and structure of a society, affected social mobility and significantly transformed social divisions. Since the end of World War II Hungarian society has generally been described as consisting of two classes (working class and the peasantry), and a single stratum (the intelligentsia). This interpretation of the structure of Hungarian society was, perhaps, suited to the realistic delineation of reality at one time, but fundamental changes have taken place in numerous spheres of life which made the mechanical application of the "two classes, one stratum" theory unrealistic. Examples include the process of industrialization and the elimination of the private ownership of land with the subsequent collectivization of agriculture and the expansion of the educational system. All of this exerted great influence over the structure of Hungarian society. These issues are ascribed particular significance in Hungary because the social structure, the nature and consequences of social divisions as well as the opportunity or constraint to move from one social stratum to another has considerable influence over major social changes. For example people will judge the advantages of belonging to a certain social stratum or group, or whether it would be worth their while to change their social position on this basis and to obtain higher educational qualifications to make the changeover. Understandably these considerations and aspirations have a notable impact on the economy, for they are capable of both aiding and impeding the flow of adequately qualified people to given occupations. It has already been mentioned that industrialization was a decisive process in the past 40 years. As a result of it Hungary joined the ranks of the industrialized nations. It is this factor that primarily determines the social stratification of those employed by industry and their social mobility. Therefore the performance of industry, the way it can attract labor, is a highly significant factor that also influences workers' qualifications. Agriculture, too, has undergone vast changes. The establishment of agricultural cooperatives and state farms paved the way for the up-to-date large-scale farm. This involves the mechanization of production the introduction of production systems, constantly renewed organizational forms, new methods, of income distribution. This disappearance of private, small-scale farming was accompanied by the elamination of the previous social stratification of agricultural workers. A new stratification emerged, based on the workers' place in the division of labor and the hierarchy of the new organizations, qualifications or their relation to the employment (a person can be a member, employee, etc. of *n agricultural cooperative). These had considerable effect on the nature and, Tibor Gergely 1900-1978 An Appreciation The paintings and drawings of Tibor Gergely, a Hungarian artist, will be seen for the first time in New York City at the Ingber Gallery (415 W. Broadway), October 6 through 31, 1987. Recent drawings by the internationally-known artist, Greta Schreyer, will be exhibited as well. After the Nazi takeover in Chechoslo- wakia and the Anschluss of Austria, many Hungarians sensed a dark future. Some of those who fled the country in 1939 were a seasoned lot; exactly twenty years earlier, Tibor Gergely and his friends, comprising the nucleus of Hungary's progressive intelligentsia, left their country and the collapsed Republic of Councils behind and went into exile in neighboring Vienna still young, they tasted the feeling of impermanence and experienced hardships of such an existence. It was perhaps not all as grim as some emigrés later recalled. Yes, they were often "half-starved and freezing to death" in the refugee barracks. But then they were "young and adventurous and revolutionary", and sometimes "even had fun". They also found solace in their con- ' viction that their exile would not be permanent. Things were different the second time around. Those middle aged men and women boarding the trains in Budapest in 1939 were less sanguine about their future. When in the spring of 1939 Tibor Gergely came to the United States, he had with him a few suitcases and about two dozen rolled canvases and some of his drawings - all that was left of his former life. Just as other emigrés, he must have carried with him another type of baggage, an invisible kind. When he left Hungary, although less known as a painter, he was already an accomplished graphic artist, the appreciated illustrator of several books, and a cartoonist of a respected Viennese daily. A sensitive intellectual, he exchanged ideas with such men as Georg Lukács and often visited with Robert Musil. The fact that he stayed on in New York City undoubtedly contributed to his seemingly smooth adjustment to his new country and its cultural scene. In time he became a sought after illustrator as well as an author-illustrator of children's books, many of which became classic of the genre. r Starting from the school year 1987-1988, 14 general secondary schools in Hungary will be teaching the subjects of history, mathematics, physics, biology and geography in a foreign language. The foreign languages introduced in these specialized secondary schools will be English, French, German, Italian and Russian. above all, the levels of income. As a result, the social stratification of those employed in agriculture differ significantly not only from the picture that emerged during the late Fifties, but also from that of the early Seventies. The National Program of Health Preservation Nothing is more precious than our health, goes the saying. Still, it is only when we have lost it that we start appreciating this priceless treasure. Although today we all have the possibilities to reach an old age in good health, a great number of people, young and middle-aged alike, suffer from serious and incurable diseases. What is more, increasing numbers of our compatriots die untimely deaths. To stop this unfavourable tendency, the Council of Ministers supported by social organs has decided to proclaim a national program for better health and longer life. For the past two decades the mortality rate of people above 30 has been alarmingly high in Hungary. Despite the undeniable progress in Hungarian health care, the number of persons having partially or entirely lost their ability to work, the increasing numbers of those on sick pay and the great number of people suffering from locomotor diseases or neurosis indicate a deterioration in the health condition of the nation. The chief causes of death are cardio-vascular disorders, accidents, suicides and cancer. These together represent 85-90 per cent of all deaths. According to international findings, a person's state of health is determined 40 per cent by the way he lives, 25 per cent by the environment, 25 per cent by inheritance, and 10 per cent by the medical service. As everywhere else in the world, in Hungary the biggest problem is the spread of habits that are injurious to health: drinking, smoking, unhealthy eating habits, insufficient physical exercise, and an excessive and almost continuous nervous strain. The Hungarian medical service, however, is not prepared for prevention; for decades it was treatment that was given priority and the importance and necessity of prevention were completely left out of consideration. This, of course, does not mean that we have no means of fighting against health hazards. The numerous encouraging examples of foreign countries showed us that joint national efforts, more effective measures and a little more attention can produce results. The main objective of the national program is to persuade people to change their way of life. By doing so, far more people could avoid the different cardio-vascular disorders, cancer, and other serious diseases. With the help of more frequent screenings, a wide-ranging health campaign and more effective treatment it would be possible to extend the disease-free years. And, by being more healthy and assuming more responsibility, the young adult generation will increase the chances of survival for the succeeding ones. The Ministry of Health and the workers in public health is the driving force of the whole program. The modernization of its organizational set-up and management system which is now under way will guarantee a proper balance between prevention and treatment. The work of health services is to be reregulated and their interests changed. The health budget will give preference to action programs launched against diseases that are the major causes of death, or aimed at prevention and the introduction of the latest achievements of medical science. Agnes Becker
